Store-service apparatus



'(No Model.) I W. MILLER.

STORE SERVIGE APPARATUS.

No. 293,587. Patented F b. 12, 1884.

W'ITNE s 3531:"

NlTE STATES PATENT I Fries.

\VILLIAM MILLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.-

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters l-atent No. 293,587, dated- February 12, 1884.

Application filed December 19, 1883. No model.) I

the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a store-service sys tem having a wire track secured at its ends to verticallymovable supports, so that it can be inclined in either direction, to cause a car-' carrier mounted on said track to move in either direction by gravitation.

The invention has for its object, first, to enable an attendant at either end of the track to raise either end, and at the same time lower the opposite end; secondly, to provide improved means whereby the car may be secured when it reaches the depressed end of the track, and automatically released and started quick.- ly when the end of the track on which it rests is raised.

To these ends my invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a store-service'apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of one end of the track, its support, and a portion of the car; and Fig. 4. represents a perspective view of a modification.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a represents a wire track, secured at its ends to plates or slides 12 b,which are adapted to move vertically in fixed slotted guides c c.

ff represent endless chains or cords mounted on pulleys or sprocket-wheels g g g g, each I chain extending verticallybetween its pulleys.

The slides 12 b are connected to the chains f f by means of collars t i, secured to said chains and slides. Secured to the upper sprocketwheels 9 g, or to the arbors m m thereof, are similar sprocket-wheels, which are connected by an endless chain, j, extending horizontally. The lower wheels 9 g, on which the vertical chains f f run, are provided with operating cranks n o. It will be seen that when either of the wheels 9 is rotated by an attendant inotion will be communicated to the chains f, j, and f, and one of the track-supporting slideswill be lowered and the other raised. It will also be seen that the operator, standing at one end of the track, can raise either end, and at the same time depress the other. For example, suppose the track has been inclined so as to send the cash-car from the counter to the cashiers desk, and the cashier, after placing the change in the car, neglects to incline the track, so as to return the car. In such case, the sender at the counter, who before raised his end of the track and lowered the other to send the car to'the cashier, can lower his end and raise the other, thus causing the car to return.

Heretofore apparatus has been provided whereby an attendant at one end of the track could raise his end and depress the other; but such apparatus was not adapted to be raised by the same attendant at the farther end and depressed at the end where he is located; My invention is, therefore, in this respect an im 'provement over preceding apparatus of this class.

The chain j need not be formed to engage with the sprocket-wheels throughout its entire length, as only a comparatively small part of it touches said wheels; hence, for economy and lightness, I prefer to connect the porti ons of the chain that run upon the sprocketwheels by wires 3 3, as shown in Fig. 1. Said wires may have turn-buckles 4. to enable them to be tightened.

To each slide b, I apply a latch or detent, 0, adapted to engage with and hold the car 1) when the latter reaches the end of the track.

' q q represent spiral springs at the ends of 90 the track, each adapted to be compressedby a projection, r, on thecar as it approaches the end of the track.

s s represent fixed arms secured to the guides c 0, each adapted to disengage a detent, 5

0, from the car when the slide having said-detent is'raised. When the car is disengaged from the detent, the spring g, which is comity alone.

A modification of the track inclining and supporting apparatus is shown in Fig. 4:, the same consisting of two sprocket-wheels, t it, having cranks a 12, arranged so that when one extends upwardly the other extends in the opposite direction, a track, a, pivoted to said cranks, and a crossed endless chain or band, 1, connecting the wheels 16 i. A half-rotation of one of the wheels, leaving the cranks in the position shown, rotates the other wheel through the chain c, and reverses the inclination of the track, as will be readily seen.

I am aware that a rigid track has been suspended or pivoted at its center, so that either end can be raised and the opposite end lowered by a person standing at either end of the track; hence I do not claim broadly, a track adapted to be so manipulated.

I claim 1. In a store-service system, the combination, with a wire track, of vertically-movable end supports therefor, and mechanism, substantially such as hereinbefore described, connecting said end supports, whereby an attendant at either end of the track is enabled to raise either of said end supports and simultaneously lower the opposite support, and thereby give the track an inclination in either direction, as set forth.

2. The combination of the wire track, the endless chains or bands f f, mounted on pulleys g g g g, and secured to said supports, and the endless cord or chain j, mounted on pulleys rotating with the pulleys (11 as set forth.

3. The combination of the wire track, the vertically-movable end supports, having (1e: tents to engage and hold a car when the latter reaches the lower end of the track, springs, as q, at the ends of the track, adapted to be compressed by the car, mechanism, substantially as described, for simultaneously raising either of said end supports and lowering the other, and a fixed device at each end of the track, adapted to disengage the car from the detent which holds it when the support carrying said detent is raised, thereby allowing the spring to impel er start the car, as set'i'orth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 28th day of November, 1883.

WILLIAM MILLER.

Witnesses:

J osnrn CUTLER, A. L. \Vnrrn. 

